Rotor's Backdoor Stories

Tristan Boniver is a member of the Brussels-based collective Rotor. He studied architecture in Brussels at the Saint-Luc Institute, the Sint-Lucas School of Architecture, and La Cambre School of Architecture (ISACF). Throughout his studies, he worked as a graphic designer, consultant, and developer, both for private clients and associations and on projects in the underground electronic music scene in Brussels. A member of the Brussels collective Boups since 1999, he then worked with Maarten Gielen to set up Rotor, which he has been a member of since 2005. He qualified as an architect in January 2010, after presenting a dissertation on rounded corners. Founded in 2005, Rotor is a collective of people sharing a common interest in the material flows in industry and construction. On a practical level, Rotor handles the conception and realization of design and architectural projects. On a theoretical level, Rotor develops critical positions on design, material resources, and waste through research, exhibitions, writings and conferences. They recently curated OMA/Progress, a large exhibition on the work of OMA, is on display at the Barbican in London. Maarten Gielen is a member of the Brussels-based collective Rotor. He started his career at the age of 15, selling decorative items made from objects found at scrap merchants and flea markets to fashion stores and florists. Arriving in Brussels in 2002, he set up BSF to offer technical assistance using salvaged materials to small cultural organisations. Two years later, the association merged with the organisations of Zinneke Parade, where he set up a programme for the reuse of industrial waste. In 2005, he established Rotor where he works as designer, manager, and researcher. Founded in 2005, Rotor is a collective of people sharing a common interest in the material flows in industry and construction. On a practical level, Rotor handles the conception and realization of design and architectural projects. On a theoretical level, Rotor develops critical positions on design, material resources, and waste through research, exhibitions, writings and conferences. They recently curated OMA/Progress, a large exhibition on the work of OMA, is on display at the Barbican in London.